How the crowd saved Brooklyn Cafe?

Now, if we look into the café almost any time of the day there will be people with their laptops, coffee and bagel or cupcake. Business goes well, one might think, especially if you see the prices. "What cost so much in a latte, when a kg coffee costs around 10 Euros?

They too make "thousands and thousands", but at the end of the month, the money slips to someone else's account.
Costs related to staff, rent and tax are a huge chunk for sure. Marketing would take money, but small businesses have very little means to put up efficient ads, besides using social media. We depend on our regular customers.

They are just one in many establishments having problems. For example, since 2015 at least 6 nice cafés/eateries/shops in the closest vicinity of our shop have closed. And even more if I take Iso Roba as well.

We see entrepreneurs work day after day, long (unpaid) hours in weekdays and weekends, often without a salary, sick leave and holidays to keep up their small businesses. They walk among us, although they keep it to themselves. Complaining is bad for business.

So far Feri's have no debt toward Vero, but being a small and vulnerable business, it can happen even to us as well. Nevertheless, we always see the light at the end of the tunnel, and we can just hope it isn't a fast train coming...

Our message: Please, support your local! They need it more than you know.

There were some critical voices among the crowd, and rightly so. Some people have criticised, that the owners haven't seen the massive costs of their business. Good point, and makes sense in a world where everything is logical and planned to the last pin.

Small entrepreneurs in food and restaurant business come from all walks of life, but it's safe to say that nobody knows "everything". We have our "super powers" where we excel and shine, while in other things we are (to say the least) mediocre or below, which means we fail, we must learn, or pay an expert to do the job (which we often cannot afford).

Chains have the money to keep experts (marketing, customer care, product development, logistics, accounting, etc.) on payroll, plan a marketing strategy 10 months ahead, while in businesses like Brooklyn Cafe or Feri's it's just us, two max. three people doing mostly everything, and plan max a few months ahead.

Finances are usually not our strong suit. Moreover, we all like to be "artists" where "passion is more important than money", we like to be goofy and bad ass and cool.

Remember the completely unsustainable MAKKARA tote bags, or beer we have at Feri's? We did those, and many more because we WANTED to have them, and kinda hoped that the stuff would pay itself back LoL. An economist would kill himself seeing the hubris, right? 🤣

Things are about to change for us, too. No more tote bag or beer, so if you're collector, get your Feri's beer until you can. 😎

If I was a journalist, I'd probably devoted a mid-sized article or 30 seconds air time in tv about this Brooklyn Cafe phenomenon, because it has interesting characters, heartbreaking drama, helpful strangers, sacrifice, humility, tears, joy and lots of coffee!

But this huge victory of this tiny business doesn't probably reach the mainstream media (shout out to Yle Uutiset).

Have a great day everyone!

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Brooklyn Cafe's message on their Facebook page (26.2)

Hi everyone,

We have amazing news! Because of your generosity (whether through spreading the word or donating), our company has received so much exposure that it has gotten the attention of many who believe Brooklyn Café and Brooklyn Baking Co. is worth saving. We have been contacted by investors, accountants and other financial experts who have volunteered their services to further ensure the future of our company. The offers of support have been unimaginable.